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Focus on Russia
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Russia: Church and State Sign Agreement to Prevent Abortion
The Ministry of Health in Russia has signed an agreement with the Russian Orthodox Church that includes prevention of abortion and provision of palliative care. The agreement signed by Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova and Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, website was published on the of the Synodal Department for ROC Church Charity and Social Service.
Article 9 of the 21 article agreement establishes cooperation "on
the protection of maternal and child health, including reproductive
health, promotion of family values and prevention of abortion." The agreement includes joint actions with medical institutions for the "creation
of crisis pregnancy centers at hospitals with the participation of
psychologists and representatives of religious organizations of the
Russian Orthodox Church"; "the participation of representatives
of religious organizations of the Russian Orthodox Church in advising
women who are planning to terminate the pregnancy, in medical
institutions" ; and for the provision of space for "posting information of religious organizations of the Russian Orthodox Church on the stands in medical institutions."
Additionally, the two parties will also undertake "joint
efforts to provide assistance and support to pregnant women whose
prenatal diagnosis indicate to the malformation of the fetus, as well as
mothers who give birth to a child with developmental disabilities."
Under
Article 5, the Orthodox Church will cooperate with the Health Ministry
in the preparation of health professionals by providing formative
instruction on the spiritual foundations of medical activities and by
facilitating the interaction of medical organizations with organizations
of the Russian Orthodox Church.
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Legislation Proposed to Restrict Access to Abortion
The
Russian State Duma is considering legislation on abortion that includes
limiting funding for abortion to only those that are considered
medically necessary. The bill is designed to help reduce the number of
Russian children destroyed through the violence of abortion.
According
to the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs, for every 1,000
births, there are 34 abortions in Russia where the fertility rate is
below replacement at 1.53.
The
legislation would ban private abortion clinics and over-the-counter
sale of abortion inducing medication would only be available through a
doctor's prescription. Women considering abortion would be given
ultrasounds. One of the sponsors of the legislation, Yelina Mizulina,
states that "up to 80 percent of them [abortion minded women] refuse to
have the abortion when they see their child on the screen."
Patriarch
Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, is seeking a total ban
on abortion. In a speech to the Duma earlier this year, the first ever
by a religious leader, he referred to abortion as "evil" and
"infanticide." In regards to the present bill, he believes that
"taxpayers must not pay for this."
In response to the proposed legislation, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe tabled Written Declaration 594 entitled "Women's right to access appropriate reproductive health services in the Russian Federation" which states:
We
the undersigned members of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
are strongly concerned about the three draft laws submitted to the
State Duma of the Russian Federation aiming to severely restrict access
of women to abortion. They aim:
- to
require women to visualise and listen to the heartbeats of the foetus
before being given permission to access a legal abortion;
- exclude coverage of abortion from the Obligatory Medical Insurance;
- to prohibit the sale of safe medication that terminate pregnancies.
The
World Health Organization (WHO) has clearly stated that "ultrasound
scanning is not routinely required for abortion". It only serves
emotionally manipulate women. Excluding insurance coverage for a service
that only women need is discriminatory and will affect poor, rural
women and women in vulnerable situations. The State medical system must
additionally ensure the availability of various methods of abortion
suitable at different stages of pregnancy. These proposed measures will lead to backstreet abortions and increase maternal mortality and morbidity rates and are an affront to women's rights.
All
individuals are entitled to the highest attainable standard of health,
which the State must ensure. We call on parliamentarians in Russia to
turn down the above draft laws.
PNCI notes that the Members of the Council
of Europe Parliamentary Assembly in their rush to object to the
pro-life provisions with worn-out pro-abortion arguments are forgetting
that the ICPD Programme of Action states in section 8.2: "Any
measures or changes related to abortion within the health system can
only be determined at the national or local level according to the
national legislative process."
The
Russian State Duma is acting in its sovereign capacity to save the
lives of Russian children and offer their mothers real help and support.
Such action ought to be applauded, and if not, it should not be opposed
as the action is fully compliant with international standards.
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International Pro-Abortion Pressure
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Abortion Via Drone
Abortion pills delivered by drones
is the latest abortion tactic in the push to circumvent pro-life laws
and enable women to commit illegal abortion to Poland. A collaborative
effort led by the Dutch abortion group Women on Waves recently launched
the "Abortion Drone" from Germany which crossed the border and delivered
abortion pills to two Polish women who took the pills to induce illegal
abortion. German police had attempted to stop the drones; confiscated
the controllers and iPads and are reportedly pressing charges. Not only
did the drones break the law banning abortion, they did so with
mifepristone and misoprostol-- drugs for RU 486 abortions that are not
registered in Poland. The self-use of these abortion inducing drugs puts
women at risk for incomplete abortion and dangerous side effects,
including severe hemorrhage and death.
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Right to Abortion Above Girls' Right to Life
Asia-based NGOs hosted a meeting
in New Delhi to discuss efforts to reduce sex selective abortion and
the impact of such efforts on access to abortion. The discussion led by Asia Safe Abortion Partnership (ASAP) and Creating Resources for Empowerment in Action (CREA)
centered not on saving the lives of girls who are identified in the
womb and targeted for abortion but rather on how measures to prevent sex
selection were impacting access to abortion. One of the major
complaints was the drop in availability of abortion inducing drugs
despite the fact that a large quality of the drugs is manufactured in
India and China.
The
sex selection vs. access to abortion discussion included remarks by
Sonali Regmi, Regional Manager for Asia for the Center for Reproductive
Rights, which focused on women who seek sex selection abortion, "..when
it comes to this issue of sex selection we routinely hold meetings and
discussions without bringing in the perspective of the women who are
seeking or obtaining sex determination and selection."
The meeting was "warned" about the effective work of the pro-life organization Voice of the Fetus Nepal
and concern was expressed about government sponsored posters which said
'feticide is a grave sin' and 'feticide is a crime'. A speaker noted,
"This kind of messaging conflict in verbal as well as visual media has
been an ongoing problem."
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International Pro-Life Actions
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UN: Pro-Life Groups Strongly Urge the HRC to Respect Life
Over
30 pro-life organizations have called upon the UN Human Rights
Committee (HRC) to respect the unborn child's right to life as it
deliberates the Right to Life provision of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The HRC had requested submissions on Article 6 (Right to Life) of the ICCPR as it prepares to write General Comment No. 36. on the article. Pro-life
statements from groups in the United States, Europe and Latin America
urged the committee to resist pressure to treat unborn children as "an
exception" to the right to life, highlighted the damaging physical and
psychological effects abortion has on women, raised concern for the
ethical issues surrounding fertility treatments and frozen embryos,
expressed concern for the discrimination of sex selective abortion and
denial of a baby girl's right to life, and opposed the eugenic
practice that eliminates children in the womb with disabilities.
PNCI Director Marie Smith submitted a statement for Priests for Life (PFL) recommending
that General Comment No.36 affirm a non-discriminatory application of
the right to life that applies to all members of the human family
stating that the right to life is the foundation of human rights and
extends to all individuals from conception to natural death, concluding
that no one ought to arbitrarily be denied their right to life.
The PFL statement warned, "Selective
exclusion of the "right to life" for any member of the human family
impacts the right to life of all by bestowing an arbitrary status to an
inalienable right that is dependent on the subjective views of others
rendering the unborn child's right to life contingent on whether or not
she is "wanted" by another, considered "worthy of life", or deemed
"perfect" enough."
The PFL statement also referred to Article 7 of the ICCPR on torture which states, in part: "No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" and compared abortion to torture stating:
"Abortion is a violent act that by its very nature is cruel, inhuman
and degrading; it is a denial of human dignity and a violation of the
right to life. Abortion methods dismember the developing human being
inflicting excoriating pain when imposed on an unborn child past 20
weeks gestation who is capable of feeling pain. Dilation and Evacuation
abortions tear the child limb by limb. Abortion imposes torture upon
children."
A number of the pro-life submissions reminded the HRC that no UN treaty includes a right to abortion.
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Focus on the United Nations
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New WHO Report Includes Abortion as "Sexual Health"
A new report by the World Health Organization's Department of Reproductive Health and Research (RHR)-
Sexual Health, Human Rights and the Law- includes access to abortion
and contraception as a critical part of "sexual health". A footnote
explains, "Some of the dimensions of sexual health overlap with what is classically included under reproductive health. Contraception and abortion in particular are frequently counted as part of reproductive health. They are included in this report on sexual health precisely because they are about NOT reproducing, but they are directly connected to sexuality and sexual activity."
A
broad spectrum of issues related to sexuality and sexual identity are
also included; all are presented as human rights with commentary on how
existing laws must be changed to accommodate these issues. The report
reviewed existing laws, court decisions, recommendations by UN treaty
monitoring bodies,
international consensus documents, and reports by the United Nations
Special Rapporteur on the Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of
Health. These are
cited in an attempt to create new "human rights standards" to advance
abortion and others issues identified as part of "sexual health".
Laws restricting or regulating abortion are opposed and described as "likely to have serious implications for health"; laws requiring parent consent for abortion are opposed. The non registration and unavailability of the abortion inducing drugs mifepristone and misoprostol are considered "barriers to access". Other "barriers" to abortion access include:
"Another major barrier to sexual health services in some countries is the refusal by some health-care providers to provide sexual and reproductive health services on grounds of conscientious objection.
The
availability of health-care facilities and trained providers within
reach of the entire population is essential to ensuring access to sexual
health services.
Some
national laws stipulate that only doctors can perform certain services.
In the area of sexual health, many services do not necessarily have to
be provided by a physician, but can be competently provided by nurses,
midwives or auxiliary nurses."
Not only are laws and regulations on abortion presented as "barriers" to be removed but access to "sexual health" needs to be "integrated
as part of primary health care or provided as standalone services, to
address the most significant sexual health problems and concerns of the
particular country, district or region."
The
proposed Sustainable Development Goal on health includes Target 3.7
which also seeks to include sexual and reproductive health in primary
health care. It states: "By 2030 ensure universal access to sexual
and reproductive health care services, including for family planning,
information and education, and the integration of reproductive health
into national strategies and programmes."
PNCI urges a careful reading of this report to best understand the vast agenda of "sexual health".
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UN Again Ignores National Laws against Abortion
The United Nations' treaty monitoring body for the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) ignored the pro-life laws of four countries under review during its recent 55th
session and strongly urged the countries to change their laws or
policies on abortion, despite the fact that the treaty does not mention
abortion.
The Committee for the CESCR told
Chile, Ireland, Uganda and Venezuela to enact new legislation on
abortion and adopt new guidelines on abortion to broaden access to
abortion in each respective country.
Ireland's constitutional protection of life from conception was targeted for elimination as the Committee told Ireland: "The
Committee recommends that the State party take all necessary steps,
including a referendum on abortion, to revise its legislation on
abortion, including the Constitution and the Protection of Life During
Pregnancy Act 2013, in line with international human rights standards."
The
term "human rights standards" comes straight from the pro-abortion
legal toolkit. No international human rights treaty includes abortion as
a human right and no matter how many times the claim may be repeated,
the destruction of an unborn child in abortion is a reproductive wrong,
not a human right. There is no universally recognized "right to
abortion".
Read more here.
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Legislative News
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New Zealand: Government Opposes Legislation to Legalize Euthanasia
New Zealand's government
will create a "select committee" to investigate euthanasia but does not
support legislation to legalize assisted suicide. Prime Minister John
Key expressed doubt that a bill to change the law would come for a full
vote due to strong opposition by a number of MPs and public opinion
against euthanasia. The inquiry follows a ruling by the nation's High
Court this June that said it is up to parliament to change the law on
assisted suicide.
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France: Senate Rejects Bill to Permit Sedation of Terminal Patients
The French Senate has rejected
a bill to permit the sedation of terminally ill patients by a vote of
196-87. The bill would not have permitted euthanasia per say, rather
"the right to deep, continuous sedation until death." The legislation
would require doctors to follow a patient's end of life instructions
pertaining to sedation, possibly sedating them for weeks at a time,
during which the patient would be denied food and fluids and die of
dehydration. The bill will be revisited by the lower house of
parliament, which had previously the bill.
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UK: Group of MPs Propose Restricting Free Speech Near Abortion Clinics
Nine members of Parliament have proposed a motion
to create a buffer zone around abortion clinics in the UK. The motion
calls upon the government to propose legislation to prevent religious
groups from protesting near health centers that perform abortion. The
motion states: "The
right to peaceful protest should not interfere with the fundamental
right for women to make individual reproductive choices."
Home
Office Minister Mike Penning responded that he believes that the police
already has adequate authority and ability and no further action is
needed.
Green
MP Caroline Lucas proposed the motion and was backed by MPs from the
Labour party and Scottish National Party. She stated, "This isn't
about shutting down debate. It's about the balance of rights. The right
to peaceful protest and free speech can be upheld without infringing
upon a woman's fundamental right to make her own sexual health choices.
The Government has a duty to ensure these legal healthcare services can
continue to operate and be accessed safely - and I strongly urge it to
legislate to that effect. These must be intimidation-free zones."
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Judicial News
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Colombia: Doctors Must Assist in Euthanasia
Colombia's Constitutional Court has ruled that
doctors working in public health institutions, and the institution,
cannot refuse a patient's request for assisted suicide and must carry
out the procedure or find an institution that will. Euthanasia was
decriminalized in 1997 but was not followed by either legislation or
health regulations until earlier this year when a case was brought to
the Court by a woman with advanced stage of cancer who wanted to end her
life. The Court ruled that the Health Ministry must mandate that all
public doctors and institutions provide access to euthanasia and
required implementing legislation from the ministry. The order has been
criticized by the Health Ministry, a number of doctors and institutions,
and the Catholic Church. The Court ruled that prolonging the existence
of a terminal patient is "equivalent not only to cruel and inhumane treatment, but the cancellation of his dignity."
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Ireland: Pro-Life Leader Vindicated of Charges, Plans to Open Pregnancy Center
Bernadette Smyth, Director of the Ireland's Precious Life, was vindicated
of charges of harassment. In late 2014, Smyth was convicted of
harassing Dawn Purvis of Marie Stopes International while protesting
outside the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast. Smyth celebrated the ruling
and her vindication, and announced plans to open a crisis pregnancy
center in Belfast to counter the Marie Stopes clinic. The center will be
an affiliate of Stanton Healthcare in the United States, which includes
in its mission "to
provide women facing an unplanned pregnancy with life-affirming options
in an environment that promotes physical, emotional, and mental
well-being". The Belfast center and will be the first Stanton Healthcare clinic in Europe. "I
want to show vulnerable women that there are alternatives to abortion
out there. I want to give them hope and help them through whatever
crisis they are facing. There are many women out there in need of such a
facility. Marie Stopes International has not really been successful
here because many women have chosen alternatives to its services and we
have been putting forward real choices," explained Smyth.
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Issues
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Belgium: Report of Thousands Involuntarily Euthanized
A recent study
out of Belgium reports thousands of patients are killed against their
will by their doctors. The study in the Journal of Medical Ethics found 1
in 60 patient deaths included someone who didn't want to die, half were
over the age of 80, and two-thirds were not suffering a terminal
illness.
Professor Raphael Cohen-Almagor
of Hull University, the study's author, warned the Belgian population
that they could be killed if doctors deemed their life not worth living.
"The decision as to which life is no longer worth living is not in
the hands of the patient but in the hands of the doctor. It should also
be noted that deliberately ending the lives of patients without their
request is taking place in Belgium more than in all other countries that
document such practices, including the Netherlands. It is worrying that
some physicians take upon themselves the responsibility to deliberately
shorten patients' lives without a clear indication from the patients
that this is what they would want," said Cohen-Almagor.
Belgium's euthanasia law is the world's most liberal, even permitting
assisted suicide for children with disabilities and terminal illness.
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Video Campaign: Physicians Say "Don't Count on Me" for Abortions
A new video campaign
features Chilean and Peruvian doctors affirming their respect for life
saying "don't count on me" to do abortions. The videos come in response
to movements by both countries' governments to legalize abortion. "If you are thinking we will perform abortions, don't count on me, because in Chile no one is expendable,"
says a Chilean doctor in a video that is part of the "Nadie Sobra" (No
One is Expendable) movement. Abortion is currently banned in Chile,
which also has one of the world's lowest maternal mortality rates,
however, President Bachelet has announced plans to amend the law.
A video of Peruvian doctors in another video also has a powerful message: "To
care, respect and protect life is the essence of our profession. The
conceived baby, whether planned or not, has the right to be born, and
nobody has the right to suppress its life." Peru's campaign, "As
Innocent as You", coincided with Congress' consideration of legislation
to increase access to abortion, which was ultimately defeated.
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Parliamentary Network for Critical Issues
Advancing global respect and dignity for life through law
and policy.
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www.pncius.org |
Visit us on the web!
www.PNCIUS.org
has been updated with expanded information on Human Dignity and critical
issues including: Abortion, Bioethics, Child Mortality, End of life issues,
Infanticide, Maternal mortality and Sex-selective abortion.
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Contact PNCI |
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Parliamentary Network for Critical Issues
P.O. Box 20203
Washington, DC 20041
703-433-2767
info@pncius.org
All news articles include links to original source. PNCI cannot verify that the
information contained in the news articles is accurate.
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